Variable position bed



Aug. 29, 1950 G. D. M VICKER VARIABLE POSITION BED Filed 001;. 22, 1945L It@ IN V EN TOR.

m K m c M D. M M m A T TORNE Y Patented Aug. 29, 1950 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE VARIABLE PQSITION BED Graham D. McVicker, San Diego,Calif. Application October 22, 1945, Serial No. 623,613

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a power control mechanism for variable positionbeds and the objects of my invention are:

-First,,' to provide a power control mechanism for variable positionedbeds which will act smoothly, quietly and powerfully to adjust the bedas required by means of hydraulic mechanism;

Second, to provide a device of this character which will adjust thetiltable head rest and the adjustable knee rest independently;

Third, to provide a device of this character which can be arranged sothat the patient may himself operate the device; and

Fourth, to provide a device which is simple to manufacture, easy tooperate and which is sufficiently sturdy to give enduring service.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, myinvention consists of certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafterdescribed in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims,reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the charactersof reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my invention and a variableposition bed, the view being slightly diagrammatic, to show how myinvention is combined with the bed and the principle of 3 operation; andFig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the main elements of my inventiondetached from the bed.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar or identical parts andportions throughout the views of the drawings.

The bed I, tiltable head rest 2, bell crank 3, link 4, adjustable kneerest 5, reservoir 6, pump 1, hydraulic cylinders 8 and 8a, swivelsupport 9, piston Ill and piston rod ll constitute the principal partsand portions of my invention.

The variable position bed is comprised essentially of the head uprightl, foot upright la and a pair of horizontal side frame members lb whichmay be channelled or L- shaped in cross-section. A tiltable head restrepresented at 2 is pivotally secured to the side frame members lb and alever 2a integral with said head rest extends downwardly from thepivoted end of the head rest to a pivotal connection with the operatingdevice hereinafter described. A bell crank 3 is pivotally secured toeach of the horizontal frame members lb and a link 4 is pivotallysecured to and between the bell crank 3 and the junction of theadjustable knee rest members 5 and 5 The member 5 is pivotally securedto the frame as at 50 and the free end of the member 5a is adapted toslide along the top or channel of the horizontal frame lb.

Referring now to Fig. 2, a reservoir 6, suitably vented as indicated atGo, communicates with'a pump l which will normally be electric and isconnected by suitable electrical leads la to a usual source of currentand conventional pump operating controls '(not shown) and this pump inturn communicates with a hydraulic cylinder 8 which is secured to thebed as at 9, Fig. l, by a swivel support 9a, the member 9a representingany suitable means of operatively mounting the reservoir, and pumpadjacent said cylinder. The piston Ill and the piston rod ll completethis part of the assembly and this piston rod H is pivotally secured tothe head rest lever 2a.

It will be noted that two cylinders have been shown in the drawings, thecylinder 8a and piston rod I la being operatively connected with thebell crank 3 so that the knee rest can be operated independently of thehead rest.

Although not illustrated in the drawings it is obvious that if twocylinders and one pump is used a selector valve to route the hydraulicfluid to the cylinder concerned will be required. The control of thepump will also involve no invention if an electric pump is used. It ispreferred, however, that the wiring of the pump control system be suchthat the patient himself may start, stop and reverse the pump.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combinationand arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited tothis particular construction, combination and arrangement but desire toinclude in the scope of my invention, the construction, combination andarran ement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a head rest pivotally securedto a bed frame, a hydraulic cylinder havin a piston rod operativelyconnected to said head rest for individually op erating the same, anelectric pump and a vented reservoir operatively connected to saidhydraulic cylinder, a hinged knee rest, a second hydraulic cylinder andpiston rod, and a bell crank pivotally mounted on said frame andoperatively connected only to said knee rest and said last mentionedpiston rod.

2. In a power controlled variable position bed,

pivoted to' said fraineat its bneend and having a fixed lever operatingabout the axis of the pivotal connection of said head rest With saidframe and a second hydraulic cylinder having a plunger therein connectedto said lever.

3. In a power controlled varia-ble 15csitioii-b 'f;, a bed frame, a kneerest including; two "nir iged members, one end of one of said'memb'ersbeing pivotally secured to said frame and the other-oi said membershaving its .free end in sliding contactavithsaid- "frame; a-hydrauliecylinder with a piston-'- an-d istcn rod, a bell crank pivotallymountedon said frame-andoperatively: connected to said knee rest and to saidpiston rod;an c1ec tric-pnmWand-a'vented reservoir operativelyrconnestedtea said hydraulic cylinder, a headrest pivoted atrits one endto" said*f-rameand having afixed lever operating aboutthe: axis of -z thepivota-1-= connect-ien of said neadres-t -with said frame,-asecondhydrauliccylinderhavingr'la pls ten-rod' operatively connectedtdsaidlevenandmeans mounting said'eylinders"onsaid bed-framefonpivotakmovementabout a-common"airiss- 47 1a a pewen controlledvariable position bed;-

a bed frame, a knee rest including two hinged members, one end of one ofsaid members being pivotally secured to said frame and the other of saidmembers having its free end in sliding contact with said frame, ahydraulic cylinder with a piston and piston rod, a bell crank pivotallymounted on said frame and operatively connected to said knee rest andtorsaid piston rod, an electric pump and a vented reservoir operativelycdnireefiea ito said hydraiflic -bylinderia head rest pivotedatits' one'end tffsaid frame and having a fixed lever operating about the axis ofthe pivotal connection of said head rest with said frames a secondhydraulic cylinder having a piston rod operatively connected to saidlever, lioth of said 'cylirfders pivoted on a common axis, bothof saidcyli-nders having their piston rods extending in the same direction anda unitary mounting for both of said cylinders near one end of said bedframe.

' GRAHAM :3. M-eVIGKER:

REFERENCES" ciTED The:renoivmg rerererrees -are ofrecoi d ifi the

